Corey Conners and Nick Taylor are preparing to navigate the challenges of the 2026 Open Championship at Royal Birkdale, where unusually warm and dry conditions have transformed the traditionally lush links course into a firm, brown landscape. Both Canadians, the only representatives in this year’s final major of the season, have been using practice rounds to adapt to the course’s unique demands and limited prior experience on the venue.

Conners concluded a recent practice session with a near-perfect drive on the 18th hole, targeting the left edge of the scoreboard over 500 yards away. His caddie, Danny Sahl, noted the shot was also aligning closely with a Canadian flag atop a nearby grandstand, suggesting a promising omen. Viktor Hovland and Jackson Suber, Conners’ playing partners for the day, expressed approval of the shot, which showcased Conners’ characteristic baby draw shape.

The extreme heat and lack of rainfall have hardened the fairways and greens, increasing the complexity of ball control and shot planning. Conners commented on the necessity of trust and precision, noting how five-irons can launch off tees and run up to 280 yards. “I’m just getting a feel for it in practice,” he said, emphasizing the importance of gauging the course’s responsiveness early on.

Taylor highlighted the difficulty in finding reliable aiming lines on the links course, which traditionally requires local knowledge or notable visual targets. With limited landmarks, players often rely on man-made structures such as grandstands and TV towers to navigate. Taylor credited yardage books and his caddie, Dave Markle, for providing invaluable insight, as Markle had already scouted the course ahead of his arrival.

Throughout practice rounds, Conners was seen meticulously studying yardage books and adjusting his strategy, often marking photos to better identify optimal fairway targets. He noted the narrow fairways and the potential for significant ball bounce under dry conditions, warning of the importance of accuracy while acknowledging that the rough, though less thick than usual, remains a factor.

The course’s baked-out state has also influenced club selection, with Taylor carrying a 2-iron rather than his usual 5-wood to cope with low, controlled shots on firm fairways that often mirror green speeds. Both players emphasized the importance of adapting mentally to unpredictable bounces and blind shots, common in links golf and exacerbated by the current conditions.

Conners is scheduled to tee off Thursday at 5:58 a.m. Eastern Time alongside Keegan Bradley and Casey Jarvis. Taylor will start earlier at 3:20 a.m. ET in a group with 2023 Open Champion Brian Harman and Si Woo Kim. Both aim to leverage their course knowledge and careful preparation to contend in what promises to be a demanding test at Royal Birkdale.